The history of Tile in Portugal

This is a visit to the magnificent National Tile Museum where the exhibition of the history of Tile in Portugal as well as its influences, from the 15th century to the present. We also have visited the Casa dos Bicos a testimony to Roman archaeological remains.

The National Tile Museum is located in Lisbon in the former Convent of Madre de Deus. The building considered a national monument was founded in 1509 by the Queen D. Leonor adding to the visit the architectuarl and historical value of this space, such as the 15th century mannerist cloister, the Church and a set of paintings and tile coverings. The building was born as the National Tile Museum since 1965.

Museums locations

We started our visit on the Zero floor by a set of rooms where some techniques for making tiles are presented following the route of the visit in a chronological order of the tile history.

During the 15th century in the Iberian Peninsula in the kingdom of Spain Seville, Valencia, Malaga and Toledo were the main centers for the production of tiles. The Hispanic-Moorish of Moorish influence with radial geometric patterns are then revealed. Cuerda Seca and Arista production techniques are used.

In Portugal at the end of the 15th century and the beginning of the 16th century, King D. Manuel I ordered tiles from Seville for the Palace of the Village of Sintra and from then on, tiles from Seville are used in Portugal.

Set of tiles with Islamic motives

In the first half of the 16th century, Portugal joined the production of tiles using the revolutionary majolica technique that consisted of the motive of the paintings over the smooth ceramic surface without the colours mixing. The motives of the paintings will then have renaissance influences.

In the second half of the 16ht century with the arrival of potters from Flanders as Spanish province at time, there was a solidification and growth of the activity of ceramic centers in Portugal using the majolica techniques.

Exhibition of tiles from the 16th century using majolica techniques. Noteworthy are some samples produced in Antwerp where Italian ceramists moved during this period transforming Antwerp into one of the most important majolica centers

Religious themed panel from 1580, The altarpiece of our Lady of Fátima by the master Marçal de Matos

In the first half of the 17th century there was an increase in the national production of tiles being Lisbon the largest ceramic center. Panels with registers tiles are produced, for example saints for divine protection and the pattern on the lining of buildings. The most frequent colors are blue and yellow.

Tiled panel with moral emblems of Asian influence

Religious panel “Frontais de Altar

Still in the Zero floor the interior of the Church of Madre de Deus

The tile exhibition has continued on floor One since the second half of the 17th century with an emphasis on profane and religious themes until the 20th century culminating on floor Two with the Great Panorama of Lisbon before the 1755 earhquake.

“Macacaria” panel Marriage of the Chicken related to satire

Great Panorama Lisbon panel, 23 meters long showing the view of the city before the 1755 earthquake

Leaving the National Tile Museum with a view of the facade of the Church of Madre de Deus

Then we visit the fantastic building of Casa dos Bicos about three kilometers from the National Tile Museum. This building was ordered to be built by Brás de albuquerque, son of the second Viceroy in India at 1521. Overtime, it underwent several renovations maintaining the architectural style of its facade.

Facade of the entrance of Casa dos Bicos

It currently houses the José Saramago Foundation and it is also part of the Lisbon Museum with a small archaeological exhibition. This beautiful building in the shape of nozzles of diamonds keeps several stories of people who passed an lived in Lisbon. One of them was the Roman presence more than 2000 years ago, being Olissipo the name of Lisbon and one of the municipalities of Rome.

Thus, the riverside part of the Tagus River, preserves Roman archaeological remains of walls and an industry of fish preparations and condiments very important for the development and affirmation of the Roman impire serving not only for local and regional consumption but also for export.

Tank (cetaria) coated in waterproofing mortars where the fish were marinated

After the visit to Casa dos Bicos with the tummy demanding something comforting, we went to lunch at the Alegro Manjerico restaurant where we ordered alheira (meat sausage) and stewed veal. It was delicious!

The deserved lunch

The visit to the National Tile Museum is a unique opportunity to learn about the history of the Tile in Portugal, also raising its artistic and cultural expression from Portugal to the world. Also the visit to the Casa dos Bicos drive us to imagine and enter into the municipality of Olissipo of the Romans about 2000 years ago, in the current riverside area of Lisbon.

We hope that our readers and travel lovers will also be able to visit these magnificent museums that have pleased us immensely.

References Museu Nacional do Azulejo; Flyer Núcleo Arqueológico da Casa dos Bicos

Thanks to Manuel Manero for blogging recommendations

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